The moon was bright and full above as leaves from the trees around them swayed through the passing night wind.
"What is it?" Princess Carrie turned around and asked.
"About our engagement..." Keagan mentioned, face suddenly blushing like a young teenager.
"Keagan, we've known each other ever since we became classmates in the academy. That's a decade now and since then, you became like a younger brother to me," Princess Carrie mentioned, letting out a gentle expression as she faced the other.
Keagan stared at the princess before him. "Do you wish to cancel the engagement?" Although simple-minded and could be slow and childish at times, Keagan, the son of a town mayor close to the Alpha King, was also known for being understanding and sympathetic. For the topics regarding marriages and similar relationships, he had an open and understanding heart.
"I've known you long enough to know who you really want to be your partner," Princess Carrie smiled knowingly, almost teasingly as without even turning her head, glanced at the other side where a figure was standing there in silence.
Keagan tilted his head to the side, "What do you mean, princess?"
Princess Carrie shook her head, "Nothing. When we return to the Capital... I'm sure you will be fine."
Keagan blinked multiple times. Afterwards, he began to blabber nonstop while following her. "Do you mean you will cancel it? But Luna Veron is a strict mother, isn't she? I heard she's extreme when it comes to you. I always wonder what kind of mother in law I will have in the future. You know, princess, I also noticed you're being closer to the second prince lately. Isn't it enough you share too many secrets with him? What if he ends up telling your secrets to Luna Veron? You'll surely be the one to suffer. Also the berries earlier..."
The blabbering began and continued as Princess Carrie patiently listened and nodded all the way, not saying anything as she let Keagan speak everything that was in his heart and mind. Actually, one could simply tell what this person was thinking just by looking at him. Even if he didn't say them out loud, it was easy to tell what he had been thinking for the last five minutes or so.
Behind the tree near where the seemingly unending voice of Keagan could be heard, a woman stood straight, not moving far despite the occurrence she didn't expect at all.
"Luna Veron sure has a very loyal subject." Another figure appeared behind, eyes staring simply at the two people conversing a distance away.
"Second Prince," Tamara looked over and greeted with a slight bow. She had become too immersed in the blabbering of Keagan that she failed to notice another person's arrival.
"Isn't it enough though? See, Keagan is pure and innocent, but he's not stupid," Second Prince said, eyes never leaving the sight before them. "Sooner or later, he will cancel this engagement himself."
"You...!" Tamara couldn't help but frown, almost glaring at the Second Prince.
"Not me, but someone else would make him do it," Gavin said, giving a knowing smile to Tamara.
Looking as if words got stuck in her throat as she slowly realized what that smile could mean, Tamara looked away. With a firm and almost conflicted expression, she uttered in a low voice, "...it's not going to happen."
Without waiting for any response nor looking over the two figures from a distance, she simply turned around and left, almost in a hurry as she did.
The Second Prince watched her figure disappear to the forest as he turned his head back, watching as Keagan and Princess Carrie continued their silly interaction with one another, eyes lingering more on Princess Carrie as always. He glanced up above, looking at the bright moon that made the night sky brighter like a live painting.
Dreams, nightmares, werewolves, witches, humans, mates, marriages, poisons... Whenever he looked at it, it was as if the moon knew everything, knew them, their worries, their desires, and their fates. But then again, no matter if one's fate became good or bad - couldn't be based solely on any entity in this world.
Because people could always change their own fates and the moon could only watch as they did.
The next day, as what had previously planned, the group waited for the sun to rise before they went to the nearest fall. And there in between the steep rocks molded to the largest ones around the water body, the plants stood visibly and naturally. It was said that this plant only showed itself during sunrise. After that, it would be harder to find one since it hid itself, making it impossible for anyone to see it.
"I don't think any of us can actually reach that plant. It's too dangerous to even try," Keagan commented. Just looking at the steep and narrow path heading to the plants was making him nauseous, his fear of heights kicking him right in the guts.
"The young lord is right. Second Prince, I don't think we can reach the plant. It's best we ask for someone with a smaller frame and height to help us," hunter Asher suggested.
"I'll do it," Princess Carrie said.